The Athens-Clarke County Housing and Community Development Department is proposing a repeal of the Challenge Grant Initiative for Community Development Block Grant Public Services category funding.

The current Challenge Grant Initiative consists of the following guidelines:

• A three-year funding limit for public services programs;

• A funding limit of $20,000 for the first two years and $15,000 for the third year;

• A 25% cash match requirement for the $20,000 awards in the first two years and a 40% cash match for the $15,000 award in the third year;

• If funded, an agency is prohibited from reapplying for the same program for a three year period after the initial funding period;

• Following the three-year period of funding, the same Challenge Grant-funded agency is permitted to apply for funding for a significantly different program. The proposed revision is intended to address agency concerns regarding flexibility of funding allocations and will allow HCD to recommend funding agencies in need of less than $20,000 and more than $20,000. 

The Housing and Community Development department is proposing the following revised funding guidelines for CDBG Public Services category funding:

• Minimum grant award of $10,000;

• 50% cash match requirement;

• Require agencies applying for homeless services funding to submit certification of participation in the Athens Homeless Coordinated Entry System, a HUD requirement;

• Require agencies applying for homeless services to participate in the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a federally mandated homelessness reporting system;

• Renewal funding will be contingent upon annual assessment of performance and expenditures.

The Mayor and Commission will receive citizen comments on the proposed revisions at the Agenda Setting Session on August 21, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall. The Mayor and Commission will vote on the revisions at the Voting Session on September 4, 2018 in City Hall. City Hall is accessible to people with disabilities.

We encourage citizens and interested parties to review the proposed revisions to the CDBG public services funding process. Written comments must be submitted to the Housing andCommunity Development Department by August 27, 2018 via email to: [email protected].